Sacrifice Read online

  Killop squinted as he caught sight of something on the other side of the wide street.

  ‘Trees,’ he said. ‘I didn’t think there were any here.’

  ‘That’s the family nursery,’ Daphne said. ‘I remember my father planting the first saplings, taken from Sanang about ten years ago. It’s too hot and dry for some of the species, but a few seem to have flourished.’

  Killop gazed at the thin trunks and dust covered leaves, not recognising any of the varieties within the fenced enclosure. Beyond, the road opened up, surrounding the great mansion. Unlike the solid, simple block that had comprised the Slateford estate house, the Hold Fast home spread out on multiple levels, with colonnades down the sides, and squat towers on each corner. As they approached, he saw a large elevated porch at the centre.

  ‘Maybe we should have come by the main entrance,’ Daphne said. ‘The front of the house looks much more impressive.’

  Killop said nothing, his eyes taking in the wealth and power symbolised by the great mansion.

  He noticed Daphne’s smile fade. He glanced back at the porch, and saw a small group sitting out on the long chairs and benches. A tall woman stood as the wagon approached. She narrowed her eyes and took a step forwards.

  Killop swung the wagon to the side of the porch, where polished marble steps led up to where the woman stood. He flicked the reins and brought the wagon to a halt.

  He glanced at Daphne, waiting for her to say something, but she was sitting in silence, her right fist clenched .

  ‘You all right?’ he whispered.

  She nodded. Killop jumped down from the wagon, a wall of heat hitting him as soon as he had emerged from under the shade of the canopy. He held up his arms and Daphne passed Karalyn to him. She climbed down, her riding boots crunching on the gravel in front of the marble steps. She gazed up at the porch.

  ‘Daphne,’ the tall woman said.

  ‘Mother.’

  ‘Welcome home.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  An older woman, dressed in a plain grey tunic, came forwards, leading two small children by the hand. She glanced at Daphne’s mother as if awaiting instruction, but the tall woman said nothing, her face expressionless.

  Daphne took Karalyn from Killop.

  ‘This is my daughter,’ she said. ‘Our daughter.’

  ‘I recall hearing the news,’ her mother said. ‘Congratulations.’

  ‘And this is Killop.’

  ‘How do you do?’ said Killop in accented Holdings.

  The tall woman’s eyes flickered over him for a second, then her gaze returned to Daphne.

  ‘Your father will be happy to see you, I’m sure,’ she said. ‘Come out of the sun, and I’ll have someone fetch him.’

  Killop followed Daphne and Karalyn up the wide steps, the sweat starting to pour from him in the scorching light. The porch was covered with a large white awning, and they slipped back under the shade.

  ‘Excuse me a moment,’ Daphne’s mother said, then glided through the open doors into the interior of the house, her long gown flowing.

  The older woman smiled at Daphne.

  ‘Welcome back, miss,’ she said. ‘You’ll be needing refreshments?’

  ‘Thanks, Jean,’ Daphne said.

  Jean walked to a nearby table, and Daphne crouched down next to the two children .

  ‘Teddy, Lydia,’ she said. ‘I’m Aunty Daphne. I’ve come from far away to see everyone.’

  She stood Karalyn on the ground next to them.

  ‘This is your cousin, Karalyn.’

  ‘Hello Karalyn,’ said Lydia. ‘I’m nearly three.’

  Karalyn buried her face in Daphne’s cloak.

  Jean handed Killop a glass of a cold, golden liquid. Expecting a beer, he took a long gulp, and grimaced. Daphne took a glass, and drank it down in one long draught. She sighed.

  ‘That’s the best iced tea I’ve had in years.’

  Jean gazed down at Karalyn.

  ‘And how old is your little girl, miss?’ she said.

  ‘One year and four thirds.’

  Jean’s mouth opened. ‘But she’s bigger than Lydia, miss.’

  The woman knelt down next to the children.

  ‘Come on, Karalyn,’ she said. ‘Let me have a look at you.’

  ‘Karalyn not like you,’ the girl replied in Kellach, one eye peering out from behind Daphne’s cloak.

  ‘What did she say?’ asked Jean.

  ‘She’s just being shy,’ Daphne said. ‘Kara-bear, say hello to Mistress Jean.’

  Karalyn scowled at the Holdings woman, then noticed the doll that Lydia was clutching in her hands.

  ‘Mine,’ she cried, ripping it from Lydia’s grasp. The Holdings girl burst into tears.

  ‘You give that back to my sister,’ Teddy yelled.

  Karalyn shot him a dark look, and the boy’s eyes widened, and he started to tremble.

  ‘Kara-bear,’ Daphne said, as Lydia continued to cry, ‘that’s not nice.’

  Teddy let out a whimper and cowered backwards. Jean raised an eyebrow, glancing from one child to the next.

  Killop heard a low cough, and looked up.

  ‘I’ve sent out a call for your father,’ Daphne’s mother said from the doorway. She looked down at the doll in Karalyn’s hands and frowned. ‘What’s going on here? Are you unable to control your daughter?’

  Daphne’s eyes smouldered, but she said nothing.

  ‘We’ll make sure she gives it back,’ said Killop.

  Daphne’s mother ignored him, and he fell silent as the two Holdfast women glared at each other.

  ‘Maybe I should take Ariel’s children inside, my lady,’ Jean said.

  ‘Why on earth would you do that?’ Daphne’s mother said. ‘This is their home. They are not the strangers here.’

  She reached down to take the doll from Karalyn, but froze when her hand was an inch away. She swayed, then put her hand to her forehead.

  ‘My lady, are you all right?’ Jean said.

  ‘A slight headache, that’s all,’ she said, straightening. ‘Lydia, would you please stop that wailing.’

  The little girl quietened, though tears continued to run down her cheeks.

  ‘Daphne!’ a voice cried.

  A man strode through the open doors and straight towards them.

  ‘Father,’ Daphne said, a tight smile on her lips.

  ‘My girl,’ the man said, embracing his daughter. ‘It’s wonderful to see you. Why didn’t you send me a message that you were coming?’

  ‘I wanted it to be a surprise.’

  Her father turned to Killop, and extended his hand.

  ‘And you must be Killop of the Kellach Brigdomin. Chief of the Severed Clan, if I’m not mistaken.’

  ‘An honour to meet you, sir,’ Killop said, shaking the man’s hand.

  ‘The honour is mine, of course,’ Daphne’s father smiled. His glance lowered to Karalyn, and his features opened. A tear rolled down his cheek as he crouched down by her. ‘Little Karalyn, so pretty.’ He glanced up at Daphne. ‘What a beautiful girl,’ he said, his voice almost breaking. He reached out with his arms, and Karalyn smiled and approached. Daphne’s father wrapped his arms around her and gave her a hug .

  ‘Really, Godfrey?’ Daphne’s mother said. ‘Tears? It’s a little early to have started drinking, is it not? Well, maybe not for you.’

  ‘I haven’t touched a drop,’ he said, beaming. He stood, picking Karalyn up. She smiled and cuddled into his shoulder. ‘You’re a big girl,’ he said. ‘I had wondered if the mixture of Kellach blood would influence your development, and I was right. You can call me Papa, like Lydia and Teddy do.’

  He glanced down at the other children, both of whom looked terrified.

  ‘What’s the matter with you two?’

  ‘Perhaps you should ask your daughter,’ Daphne’s mother said.

  ‘Sister,’ said a female voice. Killop turned back to the door to see two more women approach. One looked qu
ite similar to Daphne, though less athletic and a little taller, while the other was clad in black from head to toe.

  ‘Ariel,’ Daphne smiled, ‘and Celine, it’s good to see you.’

  Ariel and Daphne embraced, while Celine stood back. Her eyes seemed empty and tired.

  Daphne noticed a bulge at Ariel’s waist. ‘You’re not…?’

  ‘I am,’ Ariel laughed. ‘Number three is on its way.’

  ‘Congratulations. Is Faden here with you?’

  ‘He’s working in Holdings City,’ Ariel said. She glanced down at Lydia and Teddy. ‘I see you’ve already met my little monsters. Oh.’

  She knelt, and her two children ran weeping into her arms. ‘Oh dear.’

  ‘How are you, Celine?’ Daphne said.

  ‘How do you think?’ Daphne’s mother said. ‘Are you blind? She’s in mourning, as are we all.’

  Daphne swallowed. ‘Not Vince?’

  For the briefest moment Daphne’s mother looked like she might break, but her features hardened.

  ‘Yes, Daphne,’ she said, her voice devoid of emotion. ‘Your brother Vince is dead.’

  Daphne sobbed, then turned to her father, who nodded .

  ‘He fell at the Sanang frontier wall last Winter’s Day.’

  Killop’s heart filled with sorrow for Daphne as she began weeping, her face crumpling up in tears. Her father, still holding on to Karalyn, reached out for her and held her close.

  Killop stayed silent, glancing at the Holdings folk on the porch.

  ‘At least she’s crying,’ Daphne’s mother said. ‘I’ve yet to see my boy’s widow shed a single tear.’

  Celine said nothing, her eyes cast downwards.

  ‘Mother,’ Ariel snapped. ‘Don’t be like that. Celine is allowed to mourn in her own way.’

  ‘You’re so naïve at times, Ariel,’ her mother said. ‘When you’re older you’ll learn how to spot people who try to take advantage of your generosity and family name.’

  ‘Rosalind, enough,’ Godfrey said, his eyes dark as he glared at his wife. ‘Celine is family now. She’s a Holdfast.’

  There was an icy silence. Killop wondered if he should say something.

  ‘Holder Fast?’ said Jean.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Shall I organise getting Miss Daphne’s things unloaded? Where shall we be putting our guests? The south wing has an empty suite on the first floor.’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ Godfrey said, disentangling himself from Daphne, and passing Karalyn to her. Killop stepped forward and put his arm around her.

  ‘The south wing will be fine,’ Godfrey said.

  ‘But first,’ said Rosalind, ‘we will pay our respects.’

  The Hold Fast family shrine was a short walk across the baking-hot gravel to a low marble building shaded by the trees of the nursery. Killop hung at the back while they trooped along the path, leading Karalyn by the hand. She was crying, the doll having been forcibly removed by Daphne before they had left the porch.

  Servants lowered their parasols as the Holdfasts entered the nursery. No servant had been tall enough to hold one over Killop’s head, and so he had borne the beating sun and was sweating by the time the thin shade of the trees covered him.

  Godfrey and Rosalind led the way towards the white, stone building, with Daphne, Ariel and Celine following. Lydia and Teddy had been left with Jean back at the house. Mistress Jean had tried to persuade Karalyn to stay behind as well, but she had clung to her father’s leg and had refused to be parted from him. He ducked his head to get through the front entrance of the building, and sighed in relief at the cool air circulating within. A hallway opened out into a large chamber, where the walls were lined with dozens of alcoves. Most contained stone or metal urns, while old skulls sat in some of the higher spaces. The family gathered around an alcove by the right end of the wall, where fresh flowers had been arranged in vases on either side of a small silver urn.

  Godfrey rested his hand on the urn for a second, closing his eyes.

  Rosalind frowned, and turned to Daphne.

  ‘You should say a few words.’

  Daphne nodded, and approached the alcove. Her eyes were red from weeping, and she kept her gaze downwards.

  Godfrey moved back to give her room, and the family stood and waited for her to speak.

  ‘Should we wait for Jonah?’ she said.

  ‘He’s out for the day,’ her father said, ‘working with the northern herds, what’s left of them. I doubt he’ll be back before nightfall.’

  Daphne nodded.

  ‘Vince was my hero when I was little,’ she said, her words slow. ‘In my earliest memory of him, he was riding a horse, he seemed like a giant up there, so brave…’ She paused, her head bowed. ‘And he was kind, and would have made a great father. I know he wanted children…’ She glanced over to Celine, but the other woman had her eyes closed. ‘I love d him,’ Daphne went on, ‘and I’ll miss him.’ She turned to face the urn. ‘Goodbye Vince.’

  ‘Thank you, Daphne,’ her mother said. ‘Good girl. Now I would like to say something.’

  Daphne nodded and stood to the side, where Killop put his arm around her. He kissed her on the top of her head, as her mother reached the alcove.

  ‘Sweet words are all very nice,’ Rosalind said, ‘but the grief I bear burns with a mother’s rage for all the years wasted. Vince was the heir to Hold Fast, and no woman could have been prouder to name him as their son. That honour was mine, and now he has been lost to us forever, snuffed out while trying to protect his homeland from the vile savages that invaded on Winter’s Day, and anger now fills my heart.’ She gazed into Godfrey’s eyes. ‘And so,’ she went on, ‘I give thanks to the blessed Emperor for striking down the evil witch Keira, the monster that took Vince from us.’

  Killop tensed, his heart burning, but remained silent. Godfrey glared back at his wife, but also said nothing.

  ‘I am comforted by my faith,’ Rosalind said. ‘I know that Vince is now in paradise, whereas the soul of the witch will be tortured for all eternity. The Creator will see justice done.’

  She glanced at Daphne. ‘Don’t you agree?’

  Daphne’s face hardened. ‘I don’t want to argue with you, mother. Not here.’

  ‘I thought you were a believer now,’ Rosalind said. ‘Did you not claim to have spoken to the Creator?’

  ‘It’s complicated,’ Daphne said. ‘I’ll tell you all about it, every last detail if you want, but not now. Now, I just want to sleep. I’m so tired.’

  ‘Of course,’ her father said. ‘You’ve had a long journey, you must be exhausted. Ariel and Celine can show you to your rooms.’ He glanced at his eldest daughter, and Ariel nodded. He turned back to Rosalind. ‘I would like a word with your mother.’

  Rosalind snorted. ‘There is nothing you can say that I want to hear.’

  She turned her back to him and strode from the chamber .

  Ariel shrugged at Daphne and Killop. ‘Some things never change. Come on.’

  Killop picked up Karalyn, and she was asleep in his arms in seconds. Ariel took Daphne’s hand and they followed Rosalind out of the chamber, Celine shuffling behind.

  ‘Sorry you had to hear all that,’ Ariel said to him as they walked along the path through the nursery.

  ‘Your mother has a right to be angry,’ he said.

  ‘I think your arrival was a shock to her. Well, it was a shock to us all. I’ll admit that I never thought you’d come all this way. I wish you’d sent word.’

  Servants with parasols were waiting on the gravel by the edge of the nursery, and Killop felt the wall of raw heat hit him as they emerged back out into the sunlight. He took a parasol from a servant and held it over Karalyn as they walked back to the mansion.

  Godfrey held up a bottle in the candlelight.

  ‘This is the finest rum on the estate,’ he said, gazing at Daphne sitting across from him by the fire. ‘I’ve been saving it for a special occasion and well, your homecoming would
seem appropriate.’

  Killop glanced at Daphne. They were both dressed in clean clothes, after having bathed, and then slept for several hours in an enormous bed in their new rooms. A servant had awoken them a few hours after sunset, and invited them downstairs to her father’s study. They had left Karalyn sleeping, and were now sitting on comfortable chairs while Godfrey poured them drinks.

  Daphne lit a cigarette.

  ‘Is anyone else coming?’ she asked, as her father passed her a glass.

  Godfrey shook his head. ‘Ariel’s in bed, Celine’s smoked enough dreamweed to fell a carthorse, and Jonah’s not returned home. I suspect he’s decided to stay up north for the night. I didn’t ask your mother.’

  They raised their glasses .

  ‘To your health,’ Godfrey said, and they drank.

  Killop savoured the rich sweetness of the rum.

  ‘Now,’ Godfrey said, gazing at Daphne, ‘I’m going to make some guesses. Please oblige me by pointing out where I err.’

  ‘All right.’

  ‘You have fled the civil war in Rahain?’

  She nodded.

  ‘Governor Ghorley is firmly in charge?’

  She nodded again.

  ‘The Severed Clan have evacuated?’

  Daphne glanced at Killop.

  ‘Aye,’ he said. ‘The clan didn’t feel safe in Rahain any more. Both sides wanted us out. They’ve gone back to Kellach Brigdomin.’

  ‘A pity,’ he said. ‘Strategically speaking, your presence was a useful wedge. Without it, there’s nothing to stop the church’s takeover of the entire country.’

  Killop frowned.

  ‘So,’ Godfrey went on, ‘you’re no longer their chief? Am I to understand that you chose my daughter over your position?’

  ‘Aye, I did.’

  ‘Another pity.’

  Daphne glared at him. ‘What?’

  ‘Strategically speaking, Daffie,’ he said. ‘As a father I’m grateful that Killop escorted you home. However, the withdrawal of the Severed Clan from Rahain is a victory for the empire.’

  ‘Who cares about the empire?’ Daphne said.